Broadcasting
Naija Sings 2 Port-Harcourt Finals Produces 4 Semi-Finalists
In what appeared like a twist, and a departure from two previous regional finals in Benin and Enugu, Naija Sings 2 Port-Harcourt top 10 regional finals on Sunday, July 25, produced four new semi-finalists.
The finalists are Boma Tolofari, Daniel Ebitonmor, El-David Esther Najite, and Tega Apochi. These four will join six other semi-finalists from Benin and Enugu regions plus others yet to emerge from Calabar, Kano, Abuja and Lagos regions to battle for a spot in the top 10 on September 13 in Lagos.
Tosin Martins, Naija Sings 2 resident judge, supported by Olusope Adamo, radio presenter, Cool FM, Port-Harcourt and reggae/dancehall act, General Pype, had a herculean task picking the regional semi-finalists from the top 10 who put up sterling performances in their bid for a slot to progress to the next stage of the M-Net’s music talent-hunt reality show.
Beaming with excitement, Martins announced to the pensive Port-Harcourt audience: “Heated! Waoh! This is probably the toughest. It’s a keen battle. For the first time, four contestants made it through to the semi-final in Lagos. They’ve got the extra. We got top six and had to do a lot to prune the number to four.” He added that dynamism, strength, passion and strong voice gave it to the Port-Harcourt top 4.
Olisa Adibua, Naija Sings 2 presenter, who also anchored the first season, at the end of the regional top 10 performances and shortly before calling on Tosin Martins and his fellow judges to name the semi-finalists, said: “The time of reckoning has arrived. It’s been a great day, a huge day of great singing by the contestants. The huge prize money of 100,000 US Dollars puts a lot of pressure on the contestants.”
Of the four semi-finalists, Boma was the first to mount the stage at the regional top 10. She did Beyonce’s ‘Listen’. Martins felt it was a difficult placement for her as the first contestant on stage. He adjudged her good, and said he loved her singing. For Pype, Boma’s was a nice performance. He believed she has vocal strength, wants her to take time off to evaluate herself so as to be able to achieve even more. For Olusope Adamo, who had been with Karl Raccah, Naija Sings 2 roving judge, from Friday, July 23 when the auditions started to select Port-Harcourt top 10 finalists, Boma’s singing was thrilling. “I enjoy you singing and carrying people along. Great performance!”
Daniel Ebitonmor sang “You raised me up”, which Martins and his fellow judges thought was good rendition. Martins told him: “I can’t ignore the strength you have vocally; the strength in your voice. I’ve heard something slightly better today. I wish you all the best.” The two other judges wished him well and promised to see him in Lagos.
El-David Esther Najite raised the stake with her beautiful rendition of Jennifer Hudson’s ‘One night only’ that held the audience and judges spellbound. For Martins, Najite might well be the strongest of the Port-Harcourt semi-finalists. “You’ve got strength vocally, and your diction is musically articulate. You were about the first from among the contestants so far to translate passion and theatrics to strong vocal delivery. You’ve got good control of your voice especially with your ability to move from low to high. Excellent!” Pype described her performance a perfect rendition while Adamo felt Najite convinced everyone she could sing.
Tarila, top 3 star of Naija Sings season one, who was in the audience, was confident Najite has made it to Lagos and the finals, where like himself in the first season, she will have a chance to battle for the ultimate prize and a recording contract with Storm 360, M-Net’s partners on the show.
Tega Apochi did Beyonce’s ‘Dangerous in love’ with which she thrilled the judges and the audience. Martins said: “I have not harped much on tone since the commencement of the auditions, girl your tone is one in a million. I absolutely loved your music.” Pype said hers was a nice rendition and a good job. Adamo, who described Tega as a ballerina because of her dress, said her performance was a great one. “Though not a danceable song, you kept everyone dancing.”
The audience judges at the Naija Sings 2 Port-Harcourt top 10 regional finals agreed with the judges on their semi-finalist choices, declaring the winners as “born champions” while General Pype closed the show with a nice performance of his hit track, ‘I am a born champion’. The audition crew moved from Port-Harcourt to Calabar for another regional top 10 finals on Wednesday, July 28.
Segun Fayose, head of Corporate Communications, MultiChoice Nigeria, said: “Naija Sings will be screened to DStv premium subscribers from Sunday, September 19 on M-Net West, Channel 102. It will be made available on AfricaMagic to subscribers on other bouquets shortly after its screening on M-Net. Naija Sings will also be available on M-Net HD”.
Broadcasting
MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a new entertainment proposition designed to make digital video content more accessible, relevant, and flexible for customers across African markets.

Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.
The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.
Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access.
Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.
By bringing together a broad mix of content experiences under a single proposition, MTN aims to support greater content discovery, broader audience reach, and sustainable growth across Africa’s digital entertainment ecosystem.
Anchored in MTN’s strategic platforms of Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure, MTN One TV forms part of the Group’s broader ambition to build digital experiences that create value for customers while enabling participation and growth across Africa’s digital economy.
“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN group chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.
“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”
MTN One TV is being introduced progressively across MTN markets through a phased rollout approach that reflects local market needs, existing services, and partnership opportunities.
Over time, MTN will bring together a combination of video capabilities, content partnerships, and customer experiences under the MTN One TV brand to create a more consistent and scalable entertainment proposition across its footprint.
Through MTN One TV, MTN continues to extend its role beyond connectivity by combining entertainment, payments, and digital services to deliver experiences tailored to the needs of African consumers.
The rollout supports MTN’s Ambition 2030 vision of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress while expanding access to digital entertainment across the continent.
Broadcasting
IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World’s Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world for airline operations, citing high taxes, charges and operational costs that continue to weigh heavily on local carriers.

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro.
Al-Awadhi said that although Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the aviation sector, airlines operating in the country still faced enormous cost pressures.
According to him, the high-cost operating environment has continued to affect the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian airlines, making it difficult for the industry to realise its full potential.
He noted that excessive taxes, regulatory charges and other operating expenses remained major obstacles to airline growth across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.
Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States to adopt a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges to ease the burden on airlines and passengers.
According to him, lowering taxes and charges would reduce airfares, stimulate passenger traffic and strengthen the competitiveness of carriers operating within West Africa.
He stressed that a more supportive policy environment was critical to unlocking the economic benefits of aviation, including increased trade, tourism and regional integration.
Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated lower taxes and regulatory fees, arguing that the current cost structure makes air travel less affordable and limits the growth of the sector.
IATA’s latest remarks add to calls for governments in West Africa to implement policies that will promote a more sustainable and competitive aviation industry across the region.
Broadcasting
NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has trained 50 women in Kano State on inverter and battery technologies through its She-Powers Energy Initiative.

The three-day programme, held at the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano which ended yesterday, was designed to equip participants with practical renewable energy skills, promote women-led enterprises, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader commitment to empowering women, creating economic opportunities, and expanding participation in Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector. It also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development.
Through targeted interventions such as the She-Powers Energy Initiative, NASENI continues to demonstrate its commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve lives and drive sustainable development across the country.
Photos: Participants at the She-Powers Energy Initiative training organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) held at the the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano yesterday.
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